Nov 04, 2022
Career Opportunities in Pharmacy in India
Just as the medical industry is the lifeline of healthcare, the pharmaceutical industry is the lifeline of the medical industry. Hence career in pharmacy can be a lucrative career option for people interested in the healthcare industry. It caters to the preparation and dispensing of medicines that are required to treat a patient.
Eligibility
In order to pursue any pharmacy course after class 10 + 2, all aspirants of the course need to meet the following eligibility criteria for Pharmacy courses in India.
Course Name
B Pharm
D Pharm
Academic Requirement
10+2 in Science Stream / D.Pharm Graduate
10+2 in Science Stream
Subject Requirement
Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/Biology
Minimum Aggregate Score Requirement
50% and More
40% and More
Education Qualifications
Admission Process
Various entrance tests are conducted by different universities for admission into a pharmacy degree. Names of a few entrance tests are given below:
For Undergraduate Courses
TS EAMCET
AP EAMCET
BCECE
WBJEE
Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)
Maharashtra B.Pharm Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET)
B.Sc Pharma Entrance Exam Rohtak
B.Sc Pharma Entrance Exam Hissar
Himachal Pradesh University Shimla B.Pharma Entrance Test
B.Sc Pharma Common Entrance Exam, Kerala
B.Sc Pharma Entrance Exam Bareilly
GGSIPU – B. Pharma Common Entrance Test (IPU CET)
B.Sc Pharma Entrance Exam in Punjab
Rajasthan Pre Entrance Test for Pharmacy (RPETEAP)
For Post Graduate Courses
Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT);
Telangana State Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test-TS PGECET
West Bengal University of Technology Post Graduate Entrance Test-WBUT PGET and others
Courses Available
To pursue a career as a pharmacist in India, one may consider any of the following degrees are offered by various universities:
B Pharm (Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy) (4 Years)
Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) (2 Years)
D Pharm (Diploma in Pharmacy) (6 Years)
The students can opt for further studies and choose a specialisation as per their interest of career opportunities. Course options after graduation include:
M Pharm (Master’s Degree in Pharmacy) (2 Years)
The specialisation options include pharmaceutics, industrial pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical biotechnology, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, etc.
Top Colleges for Pursuing a degree in Pharmacy
The reputation of the college among recruiters and the quality of education provided plays a major role in the type of career opportunities available following a degree in pharmacy. The names of the top private and government colleges in India are given below:
Top Private Pharmacy Colleges In India
Sr No
Name Of The Colleges
Average Annual Fees (In Rupees )
1
Jamia Hamdard University, Delhi
1.45 lakhs
2
Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
85 thousand
3
BITS Pilani, Rajasthan
5.1 lakhs
4
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karnataka
3.1 lakhs
5
JSS College of Pharmacy, Tamil Nadu
1.4 lakhs
6
SRM College of Pharmacy, Tamil Nadu
1.75 lakhs
7
Poona College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra
1.02 lakhs
8
Nirma University, Gujarat
2.1 lakhs
9
Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan
2.03 lakhs
10
Lloyd Institute of Management and Technology, (Pharm) Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
1.11 lakhs
Source: Click HERE
Top Government Pharmacy Colleges In India
Sr. No.
Name of the institution
Average annual fees (in rupees)
1
Panjab University, Chandigarh
15 K
2
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
1.4 lakhs
3
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
2 K
4
Bombay College of Pharmacy, Maharashtra
41 K
5
Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Delhi NCR
37 K
6
Dibrugarh University, Assam
4 K
7
Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
25 K
8
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences-Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh
3.2 lakhs
9
LM College of Pharmacy, Gujarat
1.75 lakhs
10
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology(GJUST) Haryana
42 K
Source: Click HERE
Top 10 Pharmacy Colleges In India Provided by National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)
Jamia Hamdard University
Punjab University
BITS Pilani
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali
Institute of Chemical Technology
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Telangana
JSS College of Pharmacy
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Gujarat
Important Skills For A Successful Career In Pharmacy
Accuracy: As a pharmacist, accuracy in dispensing of medicines is very important. One of the most important aspects of a pharmacist’s job is to deal with medicines in product marketing and involvement in dispensing medicines. They are expected to deal with medicines in an expert manner without any errors and also with a swift approach.
Communication Skills: Fluent communication skills are very important for the job of pharmacists jobs as communication is the key, and they are required to communicate with patients on a regular basis. It is important that they have a command of English and the local language of the region. A pharmacist, needs to communicate with the patients about the dosage of the medicine, when to take the medicine and how to take it- clarity and unambiguity are therefore of paramount importance.
Proof Reading: The doctors sometimes miss out on the drug-to-drug interaction and prescribe medications so the pharmacist proofreads the prescriptions so they can inform the doctors regarding the issues and get the prescription changed as per the suitability of the patient.
Interpersonal Skills: Interpersonal skill is also an important skill for a pharmacist to deal with patients. Patients can be of different types and attitudes so only a pharmacist can deal with them and make sure they cooperate and take medications. Being a pharmacist, it is a struggle between the doctor and the patient. Therefore, a pharmacist needs to have a great sense of humour and diplomacy as their interpersonal skills
Multitasking: A pharmacist should be able to multitask their job along with dispensing medicines. They need to check for the expiry dates of the medicine, restocking of medicines and they need to do other small to big tasks that are assigned to them
Duties Of A Pharmacist
The job profile of a pharmacist working in a dynamic work environment can be quite diverse in nature. In fact, there is a steady workload at all times and one has to be diligent in working in this field with a high degree of accountability. The typical duties of a pharmacist include:
Dispensing medications as prescribed by doctors and other medical professionals in the institution
Reviewing prescriptions to ensure accuracy and to evaluate their suitability for the patient
Providing important information and recommendation about drugs, their side effects, correct dosage and proper storage
Providing other health advice, such as guidance on stopping smoking
Maintaining meticulous records such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, and registries of poisons, narcotics or controlled drugs
Planning, implementing and maintaining procedures for mixing, packaging and labelling pharmaceuticals to ensure they meet legal requirements
Assessing the identity, strength or purity of medications by working with other healthcare professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs
Ordering and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs. Maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly
Analysing prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions
Advising patients on brands of medication, medical equipment or healthcare supplies.
Scope Of Career
The extent and scope of drugs today incorporate worldwide healthcare services, which has paved the way to several careers options besides dispensing medicines at a medical store such as:
Chemical/Drug Technician
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for the overall efficiency and safety of pharmacy operations. Their time is usually split between using their technical skills for prescriptions and providing customer service.
Drug Therapist
Drug therapists, also known as substance abuse counsellors, help people who misuse or are addicted to prescription or illegal drugs.
Hospital Drug Coordinator
They provide pharmaceutical care services using approved protocols in collaboration with other health professionals. This includes managing drug therapy, providing patient education, and preparing and/or overseeing the preparation and dispensing of medications. The coordinator is also responsible for supervising and coordinating the activities of the Pharmacy staff to provide pharmaceutical services in assigned areas.
Bio-Technology Industries
Pharmaceutical biotechnology is a relatively new and growing field in which the principles of biotechnology are applied to the development of drugs.
Drug Inspector
Drug Inspector is a profession in the field of pharmacy that monitors the safety, quality and usefulness of medicines from the production stage to the selling stage.
Health Inspector
A health inspector is a professional employed in various industries to oversee standard health and sanitation conditions. Health inspectors' jobs are to visit various food facilities, and public health nuisances to inspect that standard safety measures regularised by state government authority.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the right way to use, store, preserve, and provide medicine
Research Officer
A Research officer or associate conducts research to ensure the products are safe by managing clinical trials
Formulation Development Associate
They oversee the development of new drugs, processes, systems and formulations. They offer technical assistance to the team.
Pharmaceutical Sales/Marketing Executive
All pharmaceutical companies require highly trained pharmacists for marketing and sell their products.
Salary And Remuneration
The average salary in pharmacy in India depends on various factors such as qualifications, area of specialisation, place of employment, skills and training received and much more. Like other industries, the more on-field experience a graduate of pharmacy gains, the better the job profile and pay scale of that candidate.
Job Opportunity
Average Salary Per Annum (INR)
Drug Technician
3.1 Lakhs
Drug Therapist
5.1 Lakhs
Hospital Drug Coordinator
4.1 Lakhs
Drug Inspector
4.9 Lakhs
Health Inspector
2.7 Lakhs
Pharmacist
2.8 Lakhs
Research Officer
6.8 Lakhs
Source: Click HERE
Reputed Recruiters In The Field Of Pharmacy
The pharmaceutical industry has seen massive growth over the past decade, where different pharmaceutical companies have been able to produce top-quality medicines and drugs for medicinal purposes. Here are some of the top recruiters in the field of pharmacy.
Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd
Cipla Limited
Aurobindo Pharma Ltd
Lupin Ltd
Dr Reddy's Laboratories
Abbott India Ltd
Mankind Pharma Ltd
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd
The chance to ensure the well-being of people ensures the gratification that very few careers offer and perform an important service to the community. A career in pharmacy is perfect for candidates who find it easy to communicate with others. Blood and surgeries are not something that everyone can handle and a career in Pharmacy is devoid of that. Even so, a pharmacist can be the hero by ensuring proper medication is prescribed or by creating a new medicine that might save someone’s life.
Medbots.in wishes you all the best!